Bonding In Stressed Condition Of At Least One Prestressed Element Patents (Class 156/160)
  • Patent number: 5632841
    Abstract: A method for forming ferroelectric wafers is provided. A prestress layer is placed on the desired mold. A ferroelectric wafer is placed on top of the prestress layer. The layers are heated and then cooled, causing the ferroelectric wafer to become prestressed. The prestress layer may include reinforcing material and the ferroelectric wafer may include electrodes or electrode layers may be placed on either side of the ferroelectric layer. Wafers produced using this method have greatly improved output motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Richard F. Hellbaum, Robert G. Bryant, Robert L. Fox
  • Patent number: 5630897
    Abstract: The described process for making a continuous composite material structure (50) starts from a continuous semifinished product (1) made of a reinforcing fiber comprising an upper layer (4) and a lower layer (5) facing each other and mutually connected by intermediate threads (6). It comprises the steps of moving the continuous semifinished product (1) along a working path; impregnating the semifinished product (1) with a resin; coupling a lower surface of the continuous semifinished product (1) with a first ribbon (23); moving one of said layers (4, 5) apart from the opposite layer for bringing the intermediate threads (6) from a first condition in which they are disposed substantially parallel to the two external layers (4, 5) to a second condition in which they are disposed transversally of the external layers; and polymerizing the impregnated semifinished product (1) to make the continuous structure (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Somiver S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alfonso Branca, Giuseppe Marinelli
  • Patent number: 5582668
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for mounting elastic elements (T) on an elongated, moving material web (M), in which an elastic element extends between two holder elements (H) which are moved in a given direction and which elastic element extends essentially at right angles to the movement direction of the holder elements. According to the invention, different points on an elastic element which are mutually displaced transversely in relation to the movement direction are moved at mutually different speeds in relation to one another, and the elastic element is fastened to the material web subsequent to having achieved given distances in the movement direction between the different points on the elastic element, as a result of the different movement speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Molnlycke AB
    Inventor: Robert Kling
  • Patent number: 5552006
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a reflective stretched membrane mirror for use in the collection and focusing of solar energy includes a tensioning fixture to which a plurality of air-actuated cylinders are attached. The piston arm of each cylinder is in turn connected to an air-actuated clamp which is designed to hold a portion of the peripheral edge of the reflective film which is to be stretched. Depending upon the properties of the film and its tensioning characteristics, cylinders which need the same air pressure are connected in common to a single regulator. The regulators are then connected to an air compressor and the sheet of reflective film is tensioned to a desired level at which point it is adhesively bonded to a circular frame. Once a first reflective film is bonded to a top side of the frame, the process is repeated with a second reflective film bonded to tile back or opposite side of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick K. Soliday, Gary W. Thomas, Monte A. McGlaun, Michael J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5552007
    Abstract: This invention pertains to handling a continuous web in a continuous processing operation wherein the web incorporates therein one or more stretched elastic-type elements having retractive forces active in the cross-machine direction, and limiting shrinkage of the web in the cross-machine direction to no more than about 5%. Shrinkage in the width dimension is controlled using methods including transporting the web on a sequence of rolls having on their outer working surfaces protuberances which interact with edges of openings in the web, inhibiting lateral movement of elements defining the edges of the openings, and thereby stabilizing the web in the width dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Rajala, Gerald L. Rabe, Paul M. Niemi, Donald J. Holewski
  • Patent number: 5536561
    Abstract: A multi-layered web is produced by providing a first layer comprised of a strip of biaxially oriented polymeric film characterized by an inherent tendency to bend within its own plane. The strip is tensioned so as to overcome the bending tendency and assume a straight orientation. While the strips is held straight, a second layer of material is adhered to the strip. The second layer counteracts the bending tendency of the first layer so that when the tensioning forces are released, the web is straight. The first and second layers may comprise first and second strips of plastic film, respectively, which are arranged such that the bending tendencies of the strips are oriented opposite one another. The strips are adhered together by an adhesive material, or by being directly fused together. Alternatively, the second layer may comprise a coating applied to the plastic strip. The coating can be applied to one or both sides of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Rexham Graphics Inc.
    Inventors: Eran (Ron) Turi, Daniel D. Olesiuk
  • Patent number: 5518566
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tensioned garter. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment mandrels having a perimeter of the desired garter shape are mounted to a rotating drum. Tensioned elastic ribbons are progressively clamped, sealed, and cut around the mandrels to form individual tensioned garters which cling to the side walls of the mandrels. Once the garters are formed the mandrels may be rotated on their radial axes for alignment with downstream operations. Sealing through elastic members is avoided by interrupting the bonding of elastic members to an elasticized laminate at locations where ribbons are to be clamped. High compression of elastics where they are not sealed to the laminate causes elastic members to burst and contract. Elastic contraction leaves an area in which ribbons may then be bonded together without sealing through elastic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Russell P. Bridges, James R. Golan, Ronald H. Helton, Stephen J. Lange, Michael J. Madill, Michael G. Nease
  • Patent number: 5516392
    Abstract: A method for combining a tensioned garter with a substrate while holding the garter in a predetermined shape. A mandrel has a perimeter of the desired garter shape. An elastic garter is stretched and placed onto the mandrel such that an upper portion of the garter extends above a top surface of the mandrel while a lower portion of the garter clings to a side wall of the mandrel. The upper portion of the garter has sufficient elastic tension to cause it to fold over onto the top surface of the mandrel to form a garter flange. A substrate is then engaged with the garter flange and a sealing means seals the flange to the substrate, using the top surface of the mandrel as an anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Russell P. Bridges, James R. Golan, Ronald H. Helton, Stephen J. Lange, Michael J. Madill, Michael G. Nease
  • Patent number: 5509985
    Abstract: A method for bonding a tensioned elastic garter to a substrate while holding the garter in a predetermined shape. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment a mandrel has a top surface and side walls. The side walls have recesses. A tensioned garter is wrapped around the side walls such that it spans the recesses. A substrate is placed against the top surface of the mandrel. An anvil surface is positioned to backup the substrate. Sealing tools pass through the recesses and intercept the tensioned garter and press it against the substrate backed up by the anvil surface. Thermobonding or adhesive sealing occur at spots where sealing tools press the tensioned garter against the substrate and anvil. The garter is stripped from the mandrel either by moving the substrate away from the mandrel or by having the sealing tools push the garter off the mandrel side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Ronald W. Kock
  • Patent number: 5500604
    Abstract: A membrane test probe (10) for use in testing integrated circuit chips (50) has a thin flexible membrane (30) bearing test contacts (40,42) that is stretched across an opening of a rigid-flex substrate (12). The membrane is manufactured with uniform radial tension by a lamination fixture having a steel pressure plate (76) that includes an annular groove (78). A high temperature O-ring (80) is positioned in the groove against the radially inner wall (82) of the groove with the radially outer wall of the groove being displaced from the outer part of the O-ring. The O-ring has a thickness greater than the depth of the groove and when the steel pressure plate is pressed against the membrane to press it against its substrate the O-ring pushes a portion (92) of the membrane into a shallow groove (16) in the substrate and deforms radially outwardly. As the O-ring deforms radially outwardly, it exerts a radially outwardly directed tension on the membrane which is cured in this radially stretched condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: David B. Swarbrick, Jack H. Pike
  • Patent number: 5500063
    Abstract: A method is provided for joining an elastic band to a continuously moving, partially elastic substrate. The method includes temporarily inhibiting portions of the elastic band and then positioning the band on the substrate. The substrate includes elastic and non-elastic segments, and the band is positioned so that an elastic portion of the band is on an elastic segment of the substrate and the temporarily inhibited portion of the band is on the non-elastic segment of the substrate. The band and substrate are then joined together, and the temporarily inhibited portion is activated to gather the non-elastic segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Jessup
  • Patent number: 5474631
    Abstract: Process for compressing a three-dimensional rigid body against a rigid adhesive-coated support member during the curing cycle of the adhesive. Spaced bands or straps of strong, non-stretchable fibers are applied over the body and through opposed openings in the adhesive-coated support member, and the opposite ends of each strap or band are engaged in adjustable tensioning members. The tensioning members are tightened to provide and maintain a predetermined pressure between the adhesive coated support member and the three-dimensional body while the adhesive is subjected to a curing cycle. In a preferred embodiment the compressed unit is assembled with other elements to be cure-bonded thereto and the assembly is united in a single cure cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Eldon L. Bowman
  • Patent number: 5462618
    Abstract: A method of forming a pultruded shaped composite material comprising carbon fiber having a diameter not greater than 0.001 inch aligned linearly with a degree of waviness defined by an average amplitude to length (A/L) ratio of less than 0.9 percent in a matrix is formed around the fiber and solidified or cured into a rigid form that will not melt during subsequent processing steps to prevent an increase in waviness during subsequent processing steps. The compressive strength of the composite material approaches the tensile strength of the material. The matrix material consists essentially of a resin present in the range of about 10 to 50 percent by volume of the composite material. The A/L ratio is determined by measuring the distribution of angularity found in the aligned carbon fibers in a selective cross section cut at five degrees to the fiber plane, wherein the standard deviation for a 300 sample angularity measurement is not greater than 0.88 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Rogers, David A. Crane, Habib G. Rai
  • Patent number: 5419859
    Abstract: A method for applying a closing tape to an extruded foam article is disclosed. The tape is applied immediately after the article is extruded and while the article is still subject to shrinkage, which is common with extruded foamed products. The tape is prestressed and is of a material to alleviate the problems associated with shrinkage. This method is particularly appropriate for applying a closing tape to an extruded polyethylene pipe insulation product which has been longitudinally slit to allow the pipe to be located interior to the insulation. The tape has one side attached to one side of the slit with the other portion of the tape being positioned for closing the slit by engaging the opposite side of the slit. A pressure sensitive adhesive is provided on the tape and a release liner protects the adhesive on the other portion of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Industrial Thermo Polymers Limited
    Inventors: David Hartman, Steven Hartman, Robert N. Jepson
  • Patent number: 5417785
    Abstract: A laminated fabric material, a nonwoven textile product used to make that material and methods of making each are disclosed. The nonwoven textile product includes a compressed nonwoven textile batt of textile staple fibers and a cured binder disposed substantially throughout the batt. The textile product is suitable as a substitute for foam backing layers in the production of laminated fabric materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Kem-Wove, Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph F. Baigas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5393360
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tensioned garter and bonding it to a substrate while holding the garter in a predetermined shape. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment mandrels having a perimeter of the desired garter shape are mounted to a rotating drum. Tensioned elastic ribbons are progressively wrapped, sealed, and cut around the mandrels to form individual tensioned garters which cling to the side walls of the mandrels. In another embodiment each mandrel has a top surface. The upper portion of a garter has sufficient elastic tension to cause it to fold over the mandrel top surface to form a garter flange thereon. A substrate is then engaged with the garter flange and an external sealing means seals the flange to the substrate, using the mandrel top surface as an anvil. In still another embodiment the mandrel top surface has a raised outer rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Russell P. Bridges, James R. Golan, Ronald H. Helton, Stephen J. Lange, Michael J. Madil, Michael G. Nease
  • Patent number: 5389168
    Abstract: A method of making an elastomeric, hot-melt adhesive foam is disclosed. The method involves melting an adhesive material, mixing a gas with the adhesive material under pressure to form a solution of the gas in the adhesive material, reducing the pressure to cause evolution and/or expansion of the gas to form a foam, and stabilizing the foam by causing the adhesive material to solidify. The relatively low melt-viscosity of the adhesive material which is used to form the foam provides desirable processing times and the ability to form foams having desired physical properties, e.g., caliper and cell structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John J. Litchholt, Richard W. Lodge
  • Patent number: 5382467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a resilient body which includes two thin layers (1, 6) of flexible material to which intermediate elastic threads (2, 3, 5) or bands are fastened in a stretched state and disposed in a regular, net-like pattern, and bodies (4) of soft material are disposed between the two layers (1, 6) in at least some of the meshes of the net formed by the elastic threads. These bodies have smaller dimensions than the meshes, so as to permit total or partial contraction of the stretched or tensioned elastic threads. The bodies also have an intrinsic stiffness such as to substantially retain their shape upon contraction of the elastic threads. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the inventive resilient body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Molnlycke AB
    Inventors: Urban Widlund, Roy Hansson
  • Patent number: 5382461
    Abstract: Extrusion laminates of incrementally stretched nonwoven fibrous webs and thermoplastic films are made. A web of spun bonded fibers is incrementally stretched to provide fiber ends extending outwardly from both web surfaces for bonding with the extruded thermoplastic film and to provide a soft fibrous texture to the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Pai-Chuan Wu
  • Patent number: 5380579
    Abstract: The core of a honeycomb panel consists of a set of corrugated strips each of which alternate abut the immediately adjacent strips. Interlocking protrusions are formed in the abutting portions of the strips. The protrusions provide automatic registration of the strips without jigging or fixturing. Preferably the protrusions are somewhat undercut to provide a detent or snapping action upon assembly to provide mechanical integrity prior to bonding. The snapping action also holds the abutting surface together for uniform bonding. Lateral registration of the strips can be provided by, for example, forming a lance and window or mating dimples in the abutting surfaces. Bonding of the abutting surfaces can be done by soldering, brazing, or gluing. This honeycomb core structure is suitable for the continuous fabrication of panels of arbitrary length, width, and thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Accurate Tool Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bianchi
  • Patent number: 5362546
    Abstract: A three-dimensional non-woven fabric with a thermally activated adhesive surface well suited for use as a facing fabric for covering a fibrous mat. The fabric comprises two adjoining fiber layers, namely an adhesive layer including bond-forming fibers fusible at a predetermined temperature and a facing layer of fibers having a considerably higher melting temperature than the bond-forming fibers. The fibers of both layers are mechanically engaged one with another and are arranged flat-wise in bundles interconnected at junctures by protuberant fiber packings disposed in a staggered relationship throughout the fabric. Bond-forming fibers are concentrated in the apex portions of the fiber packings to form the thermally activated adhesive surface. The invention also extends to a process for manufacturing the three-dimensional non-woven fabric, based on the so-called "rosebud" technique for producing foraminous webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Boulanger
  • Patent number: 5348602
    Abstract: A bend portion of a bonded, laminated article is made substantially free of wrinkling, which results in interlaminar voids and discontinuities, by applying tension to at least one layer of a radially outer portion of a preform of the article during bonding, the tension being applied in a direction away from the bend, typically generally tangentially in respect to an inner portion. The apparatus includes a rigid support to carry the preform bend portion, held to the support to enable application of force or pressure to the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Makarenko, Stacy E. Harris, Robert R. Martin
  • Patent number: 5344516
    Abstract: A method for forming a skin-contacting topsheet of disposable diaper with an elastic opening, wherein the opening 16 formed in the skin-contacting topsheet of a disposable diaper is elasticized along its whole peripheral edge and reinforced so as to form uniform gathers along the whole peripheral edge.The skin-contacting topsheet comprises a pair of sheet members overlapping side by side and having mutually opposed inner side edges, respectively, which are provided with cutouts so that each pair of mutually opposed cutouts form each opening, then elastic members are provided along halves of the opening's whole peripheral edge and these elastic members are covered with a part of the skin-contacting topsheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanji, Ichiro Wada, Yoshio Ono, Hiroyuki Soga
  • Patent number: 5330598
    Abstract: An absorbent garment includes a moisture impervious outer layer, a nonwoven moisture pervious inner layer having an upper waste receiving surface, and an absorbent layer between said inner and outer layers, each of which layers extends between said front and back edges. The garment further includes a pair of overlay strips applied over the upper waste receiving surface with the opposite ends of the strips superimposed. Each overlay strip typically has one substantially straight longitudinal edge and one longitudinal edge with an inset central portion whereby the strips provide an opening to expose a target region in a central portion of the garment body. This superimposition of the strips also forms a pair of end caps for preventing fluid leakage at the garment body front edge and the garment body back edge. A stretchable material is positioned in a stretched condition along the longitudinal edges to urge the overlay strips into contact with the wearer's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Erdman, Heinz Pieniak
  • Patent number: 5328536
    Abstract: Along a plane sealing zone, a number of plastic film webs are sealed together under pressure and heat application. The plastic film webs run at equal or different distances from one another into the sealing zone and are guided over compression rolls. Between the compression rolls, which lie opposite each other in pairs, the plastic film webs are introduced and subjected to both pressure and heat. The plastic film webs are provided on one or both sides with sealing layers, which are incipiently melted by the action of heat, so that a sealing of the plastic film webs in layers one on top of the other occurs in the sealing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sabine Rohleder, Jochen Coutandin
  • Patent number: 5300175
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer (40) is placed in a first pressure chamber (37) of a bonding apparatus (10 or 60). A major surface (46) of a submount (44) is placed on a submount support (30 or 62). The major surface (46) of the submount (44) seals the first pressure chamber (37). A pressure differential is generated between the first pressure chamber (37) and a second pressure chamber (47) The pressure differential bows a central portion of the submount (44) toward the semiconductor wafer (40). The central portion of the submount (44) contacts an adhesive coating over a central portion of the semiconductor wafer (40). The submount support (30 or 62) is displaced to decrease a curvature on the submount (44). The pressure differential is increased to an end-point to facilitate bond formation between the semiconductor wafer (40) and the submount (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence R. Gardner, Michael P. Norman, Robert W. Griffith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5300166
    Abstract: A film is delivered from a delivery roller and another film is delivered from another delivery roller. The two films are introduced between a heater and a receiver. The heater presses the two films against the receiver to bond the films. Then, the rear end of the film is cut off with fusing and the front end of another film is cut off with fusing by wire heaters. The bonded film is transferred through drive and pinch rolls to an accumulator for storing the film and is spread to open slits by holding rolls to form a longitudinal web, which is laminated on a lateral web manufactured in another process to form a reticulate non-woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kintaro Aihara, Tadashi Honda, Masashi Kobayashi, Hideyo Rohyama, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa, Toshikazu Ohishi
  • Patent number: 5290377
    Abstract: An improved method for producing a reticular nonwoven fabric in which the velocity of the transversely stretching line step can be much increased by providing the transversely stretching step with a longitudinally orienting step, thereby accelerating the whole production line. The method of the invention includes the continuous steps of: a first feeding step to feed a first film material; a longitudinally stretching step to stretch the first film material; a splitting step to split the longitudinally the stretched first film material; a laterally spreading step to spread the split film; a second feeding step to feed a second film material; a longitudinally orienting step to orient the second film material; a transversely slitting step to slit the oriented second film material; a transversely stretching step to stretch the slit second film material; and a laminating step to laminate the first film material with the second film material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Company, Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Inst. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kintaro Aihara, Tadashi Honda, Masashi Kobayashi, Hideyo Rohyama, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa, Toshikazu Ohishi
  • Patent number: 5284540
    Abstract: An unstretched first plastic foil is laminated with a longitudinally stretched second plastic foil by the application of heat and pressure. The second foil is preheated, thereupon stretched and thereafter tempered prior to being laminated with the first foil which is heated prior to lamination. The laminating step can coincide with the tempering step and immediately follows the stretching step so that the laminating step can be carried out by utilizing heat which is required for stretching of the second foil. The material of the first foil is or can be identical with the material of the second foil; in any event, the two materials are sufficiently compatible to permit bonding of the unstretched foil to the stretched foil by the application of heat and pressure alone, i.e., without resorting to an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignees: Spohn Verpackungswerke GmbH & Co., Lenzing AG, Spohn Verpackungswerke GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Roland Roth, Henning Schick, Johann Bloo, Franz Zacek
  • Patent number: 5259902
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for continuously attaching discrete lengths of a tensioned elastic material to predetermined, isolated portions of moving absorbent articles, said absorbent articles having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core. A continuous web of backsheet material is fed to an assembly station. An absorbent core is secured to said continuous web of backsheet material. Intermittent portions of a continuous ribbon of elastic material are secured to said backsheet at predetermined discrete locations. A ribbon of elastic material is cut at predetermined locations. The backsheet and the stretched elastic are maintained in a substantially tensioned state. A continuous web of topsheet material is fed to said assembly station. The topsheet web is secured to said backsheet web. The absorbent articles is maintained in a substantially tensioned state. Discrete portions of stiffening material are adhered to said continuous web of wrapper material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Delmar R. Muckenfuhs
  • Patent number: 5225017
    Abstract: A method for forming a cover of an umbrella including preparing several pieces of cloth, clamping the perimeters of the cloth and pulling the cloth downward against a lower mold having a convex shape, heating the lower mold in order to soften the cloth, moving an upper mold downward to clamp the cloth, heating the lower mold again in order to further increase the temperature of the lower mold so that the cloth can be hot-pressed, cooling the lower mold, removing the cloth, and cutting the perimeter of the cloth so as to form the cover of the umbrella.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: Fong-Ming Ni
  • Patent number: 5201979
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for manufacturing a sheet-prepreg reinforced with fibers wherein a sheet of fibers such as warp or woven fibers such as fabrics is conveyed between a pair of band belts one of which is coated with a film of thermoplastic resin which has been heated higher than its softening point to enhance resin-impregnating efficiency and prevent the impregnated resin from contacting air. Further, when the sheet of fibers or woven fibers is conveyed in this manner, the molten resin is not maintained on the manufacturing line, thereby preventing it from being deteriorated by heat. The apparatus can be thus kept under operation for a long time and the sheet-prepreg reinforced with the fibers can be made much higher in quality and the deterioration of the impregnated resin can be further delayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Research Association for New Technology Development of High Performance Polymer
    Inventors: Tomohito Koba, Toshiyuki Nakakura, Hideo Sakai, Satoru Kishi, Chiaki Maruko
  • Patent number: 5186779
    Abstract: A stretchable composite strip material comprising coextensive lengths of a band of elastic material and a stretchable non-elastic drawstring formed of textile material, and means releasably securing said drawstring alongside said band in lengthwise-bulked condition to medial portions of the elastic band is provided. The composite strip may be formed into a composite endless loop and incorporated into a garment. An apparatus and method for making the composite strip material is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Elastex, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Tubbs
  • Patent number: 5176774
    Abstract: The invention provides a multilayer plastic sheet of self-rollable maerial comprising at least two layers of material joined to one another at states of different relative stretch and capable of alternating between a relaxed and a tensioned state and of inherently assuming a rolled-up configuration in said relaxed state as a result of the different states of stretch of the respective layers and to retain said inherent property of spontaneous rolling up even after prolonged exposure to sunlight and heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Roll Screens, Inc.
    Inventors: Josephe Laniado, Moshe Har-El
  • Patent number: 5125994
    Abstract: An adhesive-coated thermoplastic film is stretched and bonded to a three-dimensional substrate by vacuum thermoforming at a lower than normal temperature, at which the film has an elastic modulus of at least 10.sup.9 dynes/cm.sup.2, followed by moderate heat treatment of the resulting laminated article. The procedure is especially useful in avoiding air entrapment and peel-back in the thermoforming of a paint-coated film on exterior body panels for automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Louis P. Harasta, Newton C. Landis, Gerald G. Reafler
  • Patent number: 5118372
    Abstract: In the manufacture of a decorative sheet material to be bonded to a substrate to provide a surface having a brushed metal appearance, a light-reflective, glossy metal layer is formed on a thermoformable carrier film. A pattern of straight and parallel microscopic cracks is created in the metal layer at a temperature below Tg of the carrier film by bi-directionally bending and drawing the resulting sheet material around a straight cracking member. Thereafter, the sheet material is stretched at a temperature above Tg of the carrier film. This creates an attractive brushed metal appearance of reduced gloss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 5096524
    Abstract: An automatic silk stretching apparatus for stretching silk on a silk screen printing frame is provided. At first silk is stretched to four sides by first stage stretching by cramp table and second stage stretching by stretchers on the cramp table. From lower side of the cramped silk, a printing frame on an elevator table is lifted and urges the silk. Adhesive is applied on the frame, and is forcibly dried. Then, the excess silk surrounding the frame is cut. The silk stretched frame is discharged, an empty frame is fed and further new silk is cramped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignees: Nippon CMK Corp., Iwase Sangyo Co., Itohdenki Kanto Hanbai
    Inventors: Yasuaki Ohtani, Isamu Kubo, Kohji Ohtake, Kazuo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5080850
    Abstract: The present invention consists of a collapsible hollow core, having a circumferentially variable wall thickness, for use in a method of forming a hollow article. The core is manufactured by extruding a hollow parison into an open core forming mould, closing this mould, expanding the parison against the inner walls of the core forming mould by injecting pressure into the parison, and opening the mould to remove the core. The core thus formed is used in a method of forming a hollow article of a resin reinforced with fibers. The method consists of winding reinforcing fibers tightly around a hollow core having a circumferentially variable wall thickness and placing the wound core in a mould. A differential pressure is then provided between the interior and exterior of the core to cause a thinner wall portion thereof to initiate collapse of the core, and this collapse is continued to an extent necessary to relax the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Inventor: James Holloway
  • Patent number: 5049426
    Abstract: A take-up liner for uncured rubber members is a band-like laminate of inextensible reinforcing cloth, flexible foamed layer arranged thereon, extensible cloth arranged thereon and sheet-like elastomer layer adhered thereto and has a helical formed shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignees: Pyramid Corporation, Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Iwao Kimura, Akira Toyonaga, Koichi Sanada, Koji Nonaka, Kenichi Haraga
  • Patent number: 5043036
    Abstract: A device for stretching the width of strip material including two rotatably mounted circular pulleys having portions of their peripheries at a close spacing at a first location and portions of their peripheries at a larger spacing at a second location. Two flexible belts are mounted for movement along predetermined paths including clamping path portions with portions of the belts and pulleys in engagement from an inlet position adjacent the first location to an outlet position adjacent the second location. Edge portions of the strip material are guided between the belts and the peripheral surfaces at the inlet position and the portion of the strip material extending from the inlet position to the outlet position is clamped to the peripheral surface of the pulley by the belts and is stretched to widen its width as the pulleys rotate during movement of the strip material from the inlet position to the outlet position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Douglas A. Swenson
  • Patent number: 5035761
    Abstract: A method for preparing cross-sections of yarn samples along the plane perpendicular to the yarn's longitudinal axis is disclosed. This method involves the steps of passing the yarn through a hollow capsule so that the axes of the yarn and the capsule are aligned in parallel, tensioning the yarn to remove any crimp, forming a solid stub inside the capsule to fix the position of the tensioned yarn, and then cross-sectioning the stub perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Robert F. Hempton
  • Patent number: 5034007
    Abstract: A method for making disposable absorbent articles which includes cutting a sheet into two elongated webs so that one edge of each web is straight and the other edge has alternating concave and convex portions, affixing the webs to a water-impervious backing sheet so that the straight edge portions thereof face each other and the alternating concave-convex portions face outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takamitsu Igaue, Yasushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 4998796
    Abstract: Described is a method for assembling multi-fiber array connectors. V-grooved silicon chips are placed in a holder which allows the chips to "float" with respect to each other and adjust to varying fiber diameters. Once the fibers are inserted, the chips are clamped and cemented together with the fibers fixed in the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Rocco Bonanni, William J. Parzygnat, Roger E. Weiss
  • Patent number: 4975136
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of filler taping a screen frame and a method of filling a screen frame. The screen frame is held in such a manner as to be indexable 90 degrees, a tape is attached simultaneously on opposing two sides of the screen frame through linear motion. At the same time, a filling liquid is applied simultaneously on opposing two sides of the screen frame on the rear surface thereof. Subsequently, the screen is rotated 90 degrees, and taping and filling are similarly effected with respect to the remaining two sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon CMK Corp.
    Inventors: Kameharu Seki, Isamu Kubo
  • Patent number: 4968366
    Abstract: A screen assembly, the process for its manufacture, the apparatus used in the process and an adhesive presenting a system and the final product for accurately tensioned bonded screens. The screens include a screen frame and screen cloth bonded thereto by adhesive using bisphenol F epoxy resin, amine adduct hardener, a substantial percentage of amorphous silica and small amounts of glycerin and fumed or precipitated silicon dioxide. Titanium dioxide may also be employed for color. A screen assembly apparatus includes a screen cloth tensioning frame and a platform positionable adjacent a tensioned screen cloth. The platform includes heating elements about the periphery of a sheet heater on a left table. The heating elements receive a screen frame which can be lifted into contact with a screen cloth in the tensioning frame. The sheet heater approaches the screen cloth itself. A thermal control cycle is presented which allows the screen frame to cool prior to the tensioned screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Sweco, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ari M. Hukki, Gerald P. Salladin
  • Patent number: 4963209
    Abstract: Stretched surface recording disk (SSR) 10 comprising an annular support 12 having raised annular ridges 28 and 42 at its inside and outside diameters 22 and 30 with a base portion 24 in between the two ridges, and an annular recording medium film 14 held in radial tension and stretched across the base portion by adhering the film to attachment surfaces 48 and 36 near the inside and outside diameters respectively. The bond between the recording medium film and the support at the inner and outer attachment surfaces is formed by an electron beam cured adhesive such as a mixture of hydantoin hexacrylate and dimethylacrylamide. By manufacturing the stretched surface recording disks with the e-beam process, significantly less time is required to adhere each stretched recording medium to its support, and the quality of the bond between the support and recording medium film is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John G. Chernega, John A. Martens, Felix P. Lau, Leslie M. Milner
  • Patent number: 4956034
    Abstract: Intermediate films are automatically removed from an intermediate film stack. The removed intermediate film is positioned on a table and cut to a desired size, and then placed on one of two curved glass sheets which has its convex side facing up. Thereafter, the other glass sheet is positioned over said one of the glass sheets, and both the glass sheets are positioned at the same time. Then, the lower glass sheet is moved upwardly against the upper glass sheet so that the glass sheets are superposed with the intermediate film interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushi Shinozaki, Shingo Seki
  • Patent number: 4941933
    Abstract: Body member conformable disposable articles and processes for their preparation are described. A preferred embodiment is a disposable absorbent article comprising a flexible, elastic, moisture impermeable backing film, an absorbent layer superposed thereon and a moisture permeable topsheet joined to the backing film along the edges of the topsheet. A portion of at least one longitudinal edge of the backing film has been folded upon itself and heat sealed together at the fold so that when the backing film is laid flat the aforementioned longitudinal edge will be in stretched condition, thus conferring body member conformability to the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson
    Inventor: Ralf Korpman
  • Patent number: 4941939
    Abstract: A moving web is folded at its predetermined length at its opposite side portions so that the opposite side portions are opposed to each other at a predetermined angle with its central portion. Then part of each of the opposite folded portions is outwardly folded. These foldings occur so that a first folding line and a second folding line being opposed to each other at each side of the web include portions in non-parallel relationship. Elastic bands are affixed onto the web along the second opposite folded portions longitudinally and substantially in parallel to each other. When the web is flattened from the folded condition, the paired elastic band affixed onto the web at its opposite sides each has a diagonal orientation symmetrically with respect to the direction in which the web moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Nomura, Taiji Shimakawa, Junji Shinohara, Shigetoyo Kobayashi, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: RE34765
    Abstract: Stretched surface recording disk (SD) 10 comprises an annular support 12 having raised annular ridges 42 and 28 at its inside and outside diameters 22 and 30 with a base portion 24 in between the two ridges, and an annular recording medium film 14 held in radial tension and stretched across the base portion by adhering the film to attachment surfaces 48 and 36 near the inside and outside diameters respectively. The SD is annealed twice during manufacture to relieve stress in the stretched film 14. This annealing results in SD essentially free from track anisotropy and stress distribution anisotropy in the plane of the disk. As a result, data tracks are more stable than in previous SD, track density can be greater, and the SD is generally more reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Alexander, Sankar B. Narayan, Sten R. Gerfast, Charles E. Nelson